Sexual Abuse and Birth - Some Resources

Giving birth is a powerful experience for any woman - it stirs up emotions that we didn't know were there or were even possible. For women who have a history of sexual abuse - the potential for stress and anxiety during birth is very real. This is why it is so important to prepare oneself ahead of time for the feelings, sensations, and triggers that may appear during birth, so that you can in turn set up good coping techniques and unconditional love and support around you.

Below are links to a series of three blog posts from the Mother's Advocate blog on survivors of sexual abuse giving birth. They are informative, helpful, and real. I would recommend survivors (who are ready) and doulas alike give them a read.

Part 1 - I Will Survive: Thoughts on Survivors Giving Birth
Part 2 - Survivor Moms: The Healing Power of Birth
Part 3 - Motherhood: The Evolution of a Survivor

Here is another blog with stories of survivors. This disclaimer is from the blog "About reading survivor stories: Although the stories are encouraging because they represent survivors’ triumphs over adversity, they can also to be hard to read, because of the intensity of the issues and events. I encourage you to check in with yourself while reading survivor stories, especially if you are a survivor of past trauma, and limit your exposure if you become “triggered”. Feeling triggered might take several different forms. You might start re-experiencing a past trauma you have had before, by not being able to stop thinking about it, or dreaming about, or just feeling like it is happening all over again. You may feel distress or have physical symptoms like feeling your heart race or sweating. If you start to experience these things, you may benefit from talking to someone who understands how trauma works and how to help you with post-traumatic symptoms."

Here is the link to a book by Penny Simkin and Phyllis Klaus called "When Survivors Give Birth: Understanding and Healing the Effects of Early Sexual Abuse on Childbearing Women". - This book is geared more towards birth professionals.

This book, called Survivor Moms: Women's Stories of Birthing, Mothering and Healing after Sexual Abuse, is geared towards survivors and is a compilation of personal stories from survivors.

Here is another article from Our Bodies Ourselves with good tips.

For homeopathic remedies for the survivor during childbirth - go here.

If you are dealing with past trauma from sexual abuse, I recommend speaking with a counselor, clergy, or someone else with professional experience in this painful issue.

Much Love,
Elyse